This morning I stumbled upon great marital advice.  Excellent even… which means I wanna share with you.

Single?  Odds are 9 out of 10 of you will experience marriage in your lifetime.  So don’t roll your eyes.  Keep reading!

As for the picture, comic relief!  Being a wife means doing things you may not always love – including boy-dirtied bathrooms.  But when done with love for your hubs, you create a welcoming haven for him to come home to.  I don’t strive for perfection but seek ways to bless Brian with an organized house.  I know, call me Ma Ingalls…. but I’ve learned that a home in order is one of the best stress-relieving gifts ever!  And that’s just what he needs.

The following brief article on “Encouraging VS Nagging” is hilarious.  Please enjoy – and repost if you find it useful.  This advice has widespread application for many relationships but is especially effective in marriage (taken from http://encourageyourspouse.com/2011/07/encouraging-nagging/):

ENCOURAGING?  NAGGING? 

Are you encouraging?  Or are you nagging?

Both activities are focused toward your spouse.  Obviously, one is positive and one is negative – but what’s the real difference between the two?

Encouragement focuses on the needs and feelings of your spouse.  It’s about their strengths and their gifts.  It’s about your spouse’s concerns.  Encouragement happens when it’s the best time for your spouse to receive it.  It happens after you’ve listened and asked questions.    Encouragement – it’s all about your spouse.

Nagging focuses on the things you think your spouse needs.  Nagging identifies what you think your spouse should be feeling.  It’s about what you think is missing, what ‘should be’ and what you’re worried about.  Nagging happens when you want it to happen.   It’s your thoughts and ideas without any input from your spouse.   Nagging – it’s all about you.

Hate to break-it-to-ya …  encouragement is not about you!

Just sayin’.  : )

LOVE IT.  Must remember.

And secondly, “The Generous Wife” shares ways to bless your husband daily.  So awesome.  You can bless anyone with these ideas, and they’re fun, creative (and yes, sexy!).

While I may not recommend being sexy to anyone but your hub, you get the point.  This woman is awesome.  What a great vision for your marriage – that whole “Ask not what my hubby can do for me.  Ask what I can do for my hubby” thing (or something like that hehe).

May we all be generous wives!  And may we be as excited to love our men as the lady above : )

In case you Gentlemen thought you were off the hook — here are AWESOME tips that should keep you busy: “100 Ideas on Loving Your Wife”.  Try a new one every day, or weekly if that’s your speed.  I’m pretty positive your wife will be delighted!

As my husband says, Find ways to out-love and out-serve each other.  I’d call that a blissful marriage, and above all a wonderful testament to God in your lives.  Our love for our spouse should demonstrate to others God’s love for us: unconditional.

xoxox Summer